Practical AI for Grants Management Learning Series

Curriculum

From AI Use to Governance: What Grants Management Professionals Need to Own Right Now
Thursday, October 8, 2:00 p.m.–3:30 p.m. ET

Artificial intelligence is no longer something grants management professionals choose to adopt. It is increasingly embedded in the systems and software we use every day. From grant management systems and meeting platforms to drafting assistants and communication tools, AI is already influencing how work gets done.

This interactive session introduces a practical framework for moving from individual experimentation to shared organizational practice. Rather than beginning with lengthy AI policies, participants will learn how to identify priority AI use cases, clarify decision ownership, and develop practical guidance that supports responsible AI use while remaining flexible as technology continues to evolve.

Using real-world examples from philanthropy, participants will begin building an AI practice snapshot for their own organization and identify where responsible guidance is most needed.

By attending this session, participants will:

• Identify where AI is already embedded across grants management workflows.
• Evaluate how organizational values such as transparency, consistency, fairness, and trust should shape AI use.
• Identify the foundational operational decisions every grants management team should clarify before expanding AI use.
• Distinguish between practice guidelines and formal organizational policy, and understand why practical guidance is often the appropriate starting point.
• Compare emerging AI practices across philanthropy and identify where organizations continue to take different approaches.

What you’ll leave with:

• AI Governance Snapshot
• Organizational Values Statement
• Priority Workflow Selection
• One month of access to the recorded session

High-Stakes AI Decisions: Managing Risk Across the Grant Lifecycle
Thursday, November 19, 2:00 p.m.–3:30 p.m. ET

As AI becomes part of proposal reviews, meeting summaries, reporting, communications, and grantmaking operations, grants management professionals are increasingly responsible for making thoughtful, defensible decisions about how these technologies are used.

This interactive session explores the highest-risk AI use cases across the grant lifecycle through real-world grantmaking scenarios. Participants will evaluate where AI is appropriate, where additional safeguards are needed, and how organizations are balancing innovation with privacy, transparency, equity, and accountability.

Rather than memorizing rules, participants will practice applying a practical decision-making framework that can adapt as technology continues to evolve.

By attending this session, participants will:

• Evaluate which grants management workflows represent low, moderate, and high AI risk.
• Apply practical standards for meaningful human review in grantmaking decisions.
• Assess how confidentiality, privacy, disclosure, and documentation impact AI use cases.
• Compare emerging approaches to applicant communication and AI disclosure.
• Analyze real grantmaking scenarios to determine appropriate operational safeguards and governance responses.

What you’ll leave with:

• AI Risk-Tiering Matrix
• Human Review Checklist
• Draft guidance for one high-priority workflow
• One month of access to the recorded session

From Decisions to Practice: Building AI Guidelines Staff Will Actually Use
Thursday, December 3, 2:00 p.m.–3:30 p.m. ET

After identifying AI opportunities and evaluating operational risks, the next challenge is turning those decisions into everyday practice. Successful organizations are not waiting for perfect policies or comprehensive regulations. They are developing practical guidance that helps staff make consistent, transparent, and values-aligned decisions while leaving room for learning as technology evolves.

In this interactive workshop, participants will translate organizational values, operational decisions, and risk considerations into practical AI guidance for their own organizations. Through collaborative case discussions, participants will draft practice guidelines, define decision ownership, and develop implementation strategies that support responsible AI use across the grant lifecycle.

Participants will leave with a practical roadmap for moving from isolated experimentation to consistent organizational practice.

By attending this session, participants will:

• Translate responsible AI principles into practical guidance for grants management staff.
• Develop practice guidelines for priority AI use cases within their organization.
• Clarify roles, responsibilities, and decision ownership for AI-supported work.
• Explore approaches for documenting AI use, supporting responsible experimentation, and continuously improving organizational practice.
• Build a 90-day implementation roadmap for responsible AI adoption.

What you’ll leave with:

• AI Practice Guideline Template
• Roles & Responsibilities Matrix
• 90-Day Implementation Roadmap
• One month of access to the recorded session

Series Speaker

Rachel M. Kimber, MPA, MS
Founder & Managing Director, Full Circle Impact Solutions

Rachel Kimber is an AI governance strategist, philanthropic executive, and educator with nearly 20 years of experience in global grantmaking, organizational transformation, risk mitigation, and compliance. She is the Founder and Managing Director of Full Circle Impact Solutions, where she advises philanthropic and nonprofit leaders on responsible AI, governance, and organizational strategy.

Previously, Rachel served as Vice President at Smile Train, overseeing grantmaking across more than 70 countries. She developed the ALIGN → STEWARD → ENABLE framework to help organizations translate values into practical governance, clear accountability, and responsible AI practices.

A writer, speaker, and educator, Rachel leads executive learning programs and professional cohorts. Her work emphasizes human judgment, institutional accountability, and technology in service of mission.

Cost per Person

Organization Members: $125
Consultant Members: $125
Individual Members: $200
Nonmembers: $200

PEAK Staff Support

For more information on registration, please contact Senior Membership Manager Clare Larson at clare@peakgrantmaking.org. For questions related to training content and materials, please contact Senior Knowledge and Learning Manager Vanessa Elkan at vanessa@peakgrantmaking.org.